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How Much Does it Cost to Study in the US?

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While the US remains the world’s most popular destination for international students, it’s also among the most expensive choices. However, although the headline costs of studying in the US may be daunting, often involving a string of five-digit numbers, it’s worth checking all the facts on fees and funding options before you make up your mind, as it may work out cheaper than you initially think.

In HSBC’s , The Value of Education, the US again emerged among the top choices for parents considering university abroad for their child – but also one of the most expensive, with students spending an average of US$99,417 over the course of their degree.

With most undergraduate degrees at public universities costing $26,290 (according to student support organization ), for many prospective students attending university in the US may seem about as realistic as crashing at the White House while you look for a place to live.

But before you abandon all hope of spending your student years playing baseball, going to the drive-thru and generally carving out your own version of the American dream, be reassured: there may be a way.

Costs of study at different types of US university

Anyone familiar with the basic rules of averages will have realized that College Board’s estimate is likely to include significant variation in either direction – and this is true. At the very top-tier US universities (the majority of which are private non-profits), fees and living costs are likely to add up to around US$60,000 per year, but it’s also possible to study in the US at a much lower outlay.

Those seeking a more affordable option will find lower tuition fees at US universities within the public sector. These are typically run as state university systems – collections of colleges within a state, which share some administrative aspects while operating as separate institutions. Public universities in the US have two tuition fee rates: one for state residents and one for everyone else. The second (more expensive) category applies equally to applicants from other US states and from other countries. Private universities tend to be much smaller than public universities and have a more diverse student population (both from different states and different countries) due to the fact that tuition is the same price for all students. You can read more about how public and private US universities compare here.

According to College Board, published tuition fees for 2018/19 at state colleges are an average of US$10,230 for state residents, and $26,290 for everyone else. This compares to an average of $35,830 at private non-profit colleges. The cheapest options of all, however, are public-sector two-year colleges – also known as community, technical or city colleges – where average fees for 2018/19 are just $3,660.

Admittedly, you can’t complete a full degree at a two-year college, but you can gain an associate’s degree. This counts as the first half of a bachelor’s degree, which can then be completed by transferring to a university for an additional two or three years.

Average fees at US universities, 2018-19

Public two-year colleges

Public four-year colleges (in-state fees)

Public four-year colleges (out-of-state fees)

Private non-profit four-year colleges

Tuition and other fees

$3,660

$10,230

$26,290

$35,830

Room and board

$8,660

$11,140

$11,140

$12,680

Total (per year)

$12,320

$21,370

$37,430

$48,510

Source:

When transport and other living expenses are factored in, College Board the following annual budgets for undergraduate students in 2018/19:

$17,930 (community college)

$25,890 (in-state students at a four-year public college)

$41,950 (out-of-state students at a four-year public college)

$52,500 (private non-profit four-year college)

While these averages provide a helpful overview of the broad range of study costs in the US, it’s worth remembering there remains significant variation in tuition fees charged by each type of institution. At the most prestigious public universities, for instance, fees may be just as high as those in the private sector. For instance, the University of Michigan (one of the highest-ranked public US universities in the QS World University Tops®) for new out-of-state students in fall/winter 2018/19 at $49,350, on top of additional costs of $11,534 for room and board, $1,048 for books and study supplies and $2,454 for personal and miscellaneous items. This adds up to a total annual cost of $64,386, or $70,356 for graduate students.

What funding is available to study in the US?

When assessing the costs of studying in the US, it’s usual to distinguish between the “sticker price” – the published rates – and the amount students actually pay once various sources of funding and financial aid are considered. Unlike in other countries, it’s rare for US students to pay the full tuition amount. In , 85 percent of full-time undergraduate students at four-year universities in the US received some form of financial aid, including 83 percent of those at public colleges and 89 percent at private non-profit colleges.

Often, the most prestigious US universities – with the highest sticker prices – offer the most generous funding opportunities. At MIT, the highest-ranked university in the US (and the world), 58 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid. At Caltech, almost 60 percent of undergraduates receive aid, while 98 percent of graduate students and 99% of doctoral candidates receive full financial support. Similar figures are cited by most other leading US universities, with forms of support including scholarships, grants, assistantships and work-study schemes.

While some funding avenues are only open to US citizens, there are also lots of aid opportunities available to international students. The University of Pennsylvania, for instance, allocates over $9 million every academic year in funding specifically for undergraduates from outside of the US, Canada and Mexico. According to data collected by , Harvard University allocated aid to 594 international undergraduates in 2017/18, with the average grant standing at $64,459, while Columbia University awarded an average of $66,350 to a total of 257 international undergraduates.

Funding information is provided on each US university’s website, and students should usually apply for financial aid at the same time as their application is submitted. A small number of elite US universities also have “need-blind” admission policies for all applicants. This means students’ financial background is not considered during the admissions process, and the university pledges to provide sufficient aid to ensure every successful applicant is able to attend.

How can you calculate your own costs of studying in the US?

In recent years, it’s become easier for individual students to calculate how much they could expect studying in the US to cost. All US universities are now legally required to include a fees and financial aid calculator on their websites, allowing students to get a rough idea of how much their intended course of study would cost and what aid they may be eligible for. These “net price calculators” can be accessed via the government’s , which also provides details of the US universities with the highest and lowest tuition fees and net costs.

This article was originally published in February 2012. It was most recently updated in May 2019.

Related categories:

The former editor of Kyohaku.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums. She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including 'How Do Students Use Tops?'

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58 Comments

Rana B 1 week ago

hello my name is rana im from morocco ,i just graduated so im a software engineer now but i wanna come to the usa and work there what shall i do? shall i make an equivalence for my diploma there or need to study for a master .. . ? what are the universities that accepts foreign students and how i can apply for a schollarship .
waiting for your advice and
response thank you .

Hi, im from mexico and im in the last year at the highchool at Uaemex (is a university of the state and teaches in highschool too). really i want to study in the usa cinematography, but i dont know how to apply at that kind of school, and what school is more easy to apply for a mexican in my case. and if i course some semesters here in i dont know, Unam, can i have more facility to go to USA for study?

Hi im from Vietnam and I am a sophomore in highschool. I am going to study in US 3-4 years later and Computer Science/Information is what I am persuing for. Are there any available scholarship that I am eligible for? Additionally sub-tropical states like Florida and Alabama would be more preferable. Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Hi, im from New Zealand and still in high school. After I graduate I really want to go to USA for study and live there. I want to study a radiati
on technology program preferably in Pennsylvania area. Help please?

Hi Jasmine, our complete guide on how to study abroad in the US should help to get you started with planning your studies in the US. We don't currently rank radiation technology in our subject rankings, but we do have a ranking for engineering and technology, which can be narrowed down to show only US universities.

Assalamualaikum...I am Shihab from Bangladesh.I have just completed my intermediate level.I really want to go USA for study and to settle there .I want to study Biological subjects there .Need a little help please.

Hi Talha, you can get detailed information on studying abroad in the US in our complete guide. To help you to choose a university, you could view our latest ranking for civil engineering and narrow the results down to show only US universities. Hope this helps!

is there any chance of getting fully funded for bachelor of medicine in US
if possible then plz do reply . Actually i cant afford to study there.
But if possible on the merit basis then plz do me this favour.

Hi! My name is Hilda . I am from Albania . I have studied English Language and Literature , Barchelor . I want to study the Master in USA . What do i need to apply there ? In Which university should i apply ?

Hi Hilda, our complete guide on how to study abroad in the US should help to get you started, and includes advice on how to apply. If you'd like to continue studying English for your masters, you can view the top universities for your subject here (the results can be narrowed down by country to show only US universities). Hope this helps!

Study in Chile(Santiago) for Nursing/MBBS/Health Management courses.As like all other Universities in Russia,Ukraine,Phillipines and China,Chile is offering MBBS at a very affordable price to International students.It is an excellent oppurtunity for your students to study in Chile and at the same time get Permanent Residency in just 2 years unlike any other countries and Citizenship in 5 years.None of the other countries is offering this advantage to International students.Students have to go back to thier country after course completion wheras immediately after completing of 5 years of studies,student can apply for Citizenship which entitles them for Visa on Arrival for 32 countries and right to keep DUAL CITIZENSHIP.

HI Laura . Iam Faizullah from afghanistan . i am seeing scholarships in bachelors degree in USA or maybe in Germeny. please let me if there are possibilities . because i cant really afford that huge amount of money , Thank you

Hi Hewan, I don't know of any scholarships specifically for Nepalese students, but we've listed a range of computer science scholarships here. I'd also recommend checking the University of Colorado's official website for information on scholarships you could apply to.

Hi ,I am Hrishikesh from Indis.i am currently pursuing my b.tech in civil from coep in pune. I would like to do ms in structural engineering.could you please provide me info on the best college for the course with their fees structure and scholarships program

hi my name is neo i'll be completing my grade 12 next and i would like to study medicine in the university of washington can you pleas assist me with more information as when to apply and the financial assistance as well thank you

Hi Neo, application deadlines to study in the US are usually in January, but you can find the exact date by checking the University of Washington's website, which should also have a section on scholarships and funding opportunities. You can browse a range of other scholarships to study in the US here. Hope this helps!

Hi,
My high school entering daughter is studying in Washington USA for the past 5 years and I hold a H1B visa and my daughter eventually H4. We migrated from another country 5 years back and we are not citizens of US and we don't hold Green card as well. Can you please tell me whether the fee structure for the US universities going to be same for us, or, will we be considered as international student and our fee structure going to be high and different. How does the fee structure matters with regarding to green card or the status in US ? Please provide more insight into this. Thank you.

The most prestigious American universities - with the highest prices Sticker - offering the most generous funding options. At MIT, the highest ranked university in the US (and the world), 90% and 86% of university graduates and professional students receive financial aid. At Caltech, almost 60% of university students to get help, while 98% of university graduates and 99% of doctoral students receive full financial support.

Hii this is divyanshu Kapadiya. I have completed master of pharmacy from the department of medicinal chemistry. I want to get fully funded PhD course in toppest university of US. Need you proper guidance. Thanx.

Hi there, to find the names of leading US universities for pharmacy & pharmacology, see our latest subject ranking. From there, you can research each university via their official website to see if they offer PhD placements in your specialization and/or financial aid. This may take a while but is the best way to find leading programs. To get more information on PhD funding see this article and this guide to graduate funding.

I am 34 years old graduate of Bs CompSci in my country, but my profession now in Turkey is ESL teacher. I am planning to take an undergraduate school related to my profession probably an education course. US is my choice but according to the agents, It would be hard for me to study in US because of my age. Does age really matters in studying?

Hi Laura,
Very valuable and informative.
I am a born U.S. citizen studying abroad in New Zealand) ...will complete my Bachelor of Science degree and am
Wanting to do PharmD in the US.
How does funding and financial aid work in my case?